2012 Fall Fashion Essentials | My Key Pieces

Summer is coming to an end and I'm pretty much over it anyway... 

Now is the time to start transitioning the wardrobe into the greatest season of the year so I wanted to share some of my wardrobe must-haves for the fall season:

1. Denim on top

Aside from the generic denim shirt and classic denim jacket, it's important to have a unique denim piece to add some dimension to a casual outfit and provide some light outerwear when the temperatures cool down. I'm not the biggest fan of studded denim, but I think the stud work on this cropped Kensie jacket comes across as very subtle and classic.

2. Light Knits

This is a perfect summer-to-fall transition piece because the open knitting on the front of this Urban Outfitters sweater allows cute summer pieces to peek through while the 30 percent wool blend keeps me comfortable in the cooler early fall weather.

Another transition knit is this oatmeal colored beach sweater I got on the Gap clearance rack. Light weight and semi-sheer knits like this are really easy to style with summer shorts or even skirts and tights.

3. Layering pieces

Gray is my favorite fall color so I know I'll be getting a lot of wear out of this over-sized shirt dress I found in the Urban Outfitters sale. Over-sized shirts are key transition fall pieces because they can be worn unbuttoned and thrown over summer wear (like bralets and shorts) or worn buttoned up with a pair of boots.

I found this piece in the Urban Outfitters basement as well and ended up getting it dirty within moments of putting it on. After learning how to properly clean 100 percent silk, I definitely see it becoming a very versatile layering piece for the fall. The muted grayish blue color also pairs well with fall neutrals and jewel tones. 

This pale gold blouse was purchased at American Eagle last year as professional work wear for my summer internship. I don't think I ever got around to wearing it actually, but I love the luxurious, silk-like material and the muted metallic sheen is perfect to pair with my usually all-black fall ensembles. 

4. Menswear Denim

Ever since style icon Victoria Beckham pulled on some baggy menswear trousers in 2007, I was compelled to find the perfect pair of menswear pants. After I acquired my own pair of baggy mens trousers, I went looking for some menswear denim and found these light-wash wide leg jeans from American Eagle. I like them because the light wash blends well with fall neutrals are a great way to give a feminine pieces some boyish charm.

What are your favorite fall pieces in your wardrobe?